Wakenaam poultry farmer remanded to prison

Essequibo cocaine bust

A San Souci, Wakenaam resident was on Tuesday remanded to prison for trafficking of narcotics.

Andrew Kenneth, 30, made his first appearance before Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court.

Dressed in a white long-sleeve shirt and grey pants, the father of three denied the charge.

The prosecution contended that on April 13 during a Police raid at Aurora, Kenneth was found in possession of five kilograms of cocaine.

His Attorney, James Bond, in a bail application, told the court that Kenneth was a Community Development Officer (CDC) in the North West District and also a poultry farmer.

In establishing special reasons for bail, Bond said his client was one of three occupants in a hire car in which the drug was found.

He said his client was not the owner of the vehicle nor the driver at the time the substance was found. The lawyer told the court that the drug was found in the handle of the car.

However, Police Prosecutor Haimraj Ramsewack objected to bail on the grounds that there were no special reasons put forward to the court. He said Kenneth signed the cautious statement admitting that the substance was his and that he found it in the Shell Beach area in Region One (Barima-Waini).

According to the Prosecutor, the suitcase in which the substance was found belonged to Kenneth, who admitted to this fact also in his caution statement. The suitcase, the Prosecutor stated, also had clothing belonging to the poultry farmer.

In response, the defence lawyer said that his client was forced by Police to sign the statement. Bail was refused by Magistrate Scarce on grounds that there was no special reason put forward to the court. Kenneth will return to court on May 18.